Grab



A E. NoRRls May 29, 1928.

GRAB

Filed Sept. 14 1926 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 May 29, 1928.

A. E. NORRIS GRAB iled sept. 14, 192e 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 12a/venan- UZmonENomea/ May 29, '1928.

A. E. NORRIS GRAB Filed Sept. 14, 1926 May 29, 1928.

1,671,444 A. E. NORRIS GRAB Filed Sept. 14, 1926 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 1,671,444 A. E. NoRms v GRAB Filed sept; 14, 192s 6 sheets-sheet 5 hm Wm mm r I I I l l l I I a l I I l I i B -May 29, 1928.

May 29, 1928.

A. E. NORRIS GRAB Filed Sept. 14, 1926' 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Patented May 29, 1928. p

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GRAB Application led September 1.171, 1326. 'Serial No. 135,329.

This inventionrelates to -algrab and is more `especially v concerned with a grab lof the `Ael'elanfup"" vtype having a wide vspread yto ena'ble'it toco-veralarge area. The inventionwillI be v vbest yunderstood by Vreference to *the ,ollcwin-g description when taken in connection `with the accompanying drawings of yone spee'i-lic lembodiment thereof, while its-scope willbe more"particularly pointed out 1in the fappended claims.

'fIrn the drawings 'Figure' 1l isa-n elevation of a Pgrab embodying theinvention,show-ing'thesame as it appearswhen vclosed;

'Figure g2 nis a sectional -view Von an enlarged-scale on' line Q2- of 'Fi-gure 1;

"Figure '3 isaqsectionalview-on line 3-3 et Figui-e2;

Figure Il is of Figli-rc3,

Figure :"8 is a sectional View c-fFigu-re;

lFigure 9 `isa Vsectional view of Figurel;

a sectional view ,on line 1r-'l a sectional view on linea lsectionalview on line 6-6 faf'sectional View Von line 7-7 .on line 8-8 Online 9-9 v"Figure lOlisjagplan-partly in horizontal section ",oi they grab, as it .appears when open, theshellscbeing partlyibroken laway to save space; l yllifgnre l'lis a vsectional view "on areduced scaleoniline 11-11 of'lligure 10;.an'd` *Figure12,isga'sectional view cna reduced scale onlineflZ--lQ of Figure 10.

te' terring to the dra-wingsand to the embodiment 'of the invention 'which is selected for exein'pliiicatioin 4and having reference at 'first to i.l"igure'3, the4 grab comprises an upper or-top'head 20, presenting depending arnisjlfheiein fouiyin number (see Figure 10)., :arranged in "pairs Aand receiving two hinge pins 22. tFor-,the sake of light weight and 'convenience ot manufacture, while giving -the `structure *the requisite Adegree of strength, Jthe' 'hinge jpins` are connected to eachother by'yolics 23 (see Eig. 10)y which are fsuita'bly secured 'l to the terminal portionsot, chel hingepins as, by.` pins 24.

lThe 'hinge jpins `afford pivots for hinge pier' "tgherein four in number, arranged yin "pairsfthe hingecpieces for' each pair" be ing gearedtogether as by-the use of gear segments 26 (see lFig. 3) yto causethem 'to turn in unison. The hingep'iecesp on each side olfthe-verticalinedian line of the grab are secured -to each ,otherby spacers '27 ,(see Figs. :G and '7),'to which they are appropriately secured asby bolts 28.

le'le-rring -now rto 'Fig 1, the hinge pieces a-iorfd support .for shells'29, to which jaws 30 are attached. "In practice each shell is made-up of several 4 plates Iof sheet f-metal .secu-redtoget'her tothe hin'ge piece and tothe jaw l-by*a large Anumber of rivets, which, however, have been omitted inthe drawings, because, if shown, they `would vtend `to obscure-thefeatures, which haveto do withthe present invent-ion.

vfReierring to Fig. 3, the-,opening of the grab is accomplished bymechanism,`herein including a ytoggle comprising two linlrs 31,

each of which isfbranched J(see Figs 6 and 7) and npresents -two arms 32 connected by anintegralbrace. iEach arm presents an ear for' yboss '3ft received between [two ears or bosses `v35 4presented by xthey spacer 27.

Hinge pins-36 yextending 'through each set otearsl afford-pivotsabout Kwhich the 'links turn relatively to the hinge pieces. `Referring gaga'in'to ldfig` 3, the'lower ends of )the toggle *links are vinterconnected as by vsegmental-gears 37, and they arejpivoted as by liingepins @Bgto'allow'er orbottom yhead This 'head constitutes a Vholding shea-ve frame-on which a holding sheave l0 receives journal supportby a pin l1 suitably 'held in -placeas by keeper fplate's l2 received 'in grooves 4B, presented fby :the pinA 11.

A xholding rope 4&1- presents a bight in whiclrthe sheave Ll() iis-suspended, and the leads'of thisrope extendin 'an npward'directioivtllron'g-h the {upperih'ead 20, which, as best show-'n in Fig. "2 -is provided with two pairs of guide-'rollers Ll5 and 4:6, one pair ats-r'gl'itan-gles'to the other (see also "Fig.,

i o'fg'uidethe rope andtoprevent it gfrom becomi g V-chaifed The lower part of the holding rope -sheave isprotected by an a-'ppropriate housing or bonnet 4l-7,-best shown in Figi 2, ihavingl a circumferential portion 48, \vhiehpresentsarepe gua-rd closefto the peripheyy'- otithe-fsheave f ('s'eejFi-g, 3) to prevent'fthe rope :from ibecoming disengaged "fromfthegroove:otthe sheave. y

Referring now to lFig. .12, movement of one c head towards the other when ythe grab opens is limited by appropriate stops, here in abutments 48, on the lower head, adapted vceived. These blocks being of somewhat elastiematerial, cushion the impact. The

'blocks are held in place by appropriate means, herein screws 5l, the Vremoval of which permitsthe blocks to be renewed when they become worn. Openings 52 above the `blocks are provided for use of a suitable tool to drive the blocks out of their chambers.

r,The closing rope and its sheaves will now be described, reference vbeing had at first to Fig. l1. A closing rope has two leads which extend downwardly through the upperphead, and to prevent them from becoming chafed, two pairs of guide rollers 54 and and`55 (see Fig. 2) similar to those pro- `vided for the holding rope, are employed. These two leads of the closing rope extend thence over sheaves 56 (F ig. ll) carried by the upper headf. Herein vthese sheaves are mounted to turn on and about the hinge pins 22, as a result of which the opening movementof the hinge pieceson the hinge pins is accompanied bythe wrapping of the leads lin somewhat longer arcs on the sheaves, as will be evident from a comparison ofFigs. 3 and 11. Associated with the sheaves 56 are appropriate rope guards 57 (see Fig. 1l), which prevent the rope from becoming 'disengaged from the. grooves of the respective sheaves (see also Fig. 2). These guards are conveniently supported on the yok'es 23, as by brackets 58. n

'Referring' again to Fig. ll, the closing rope is appropriately connected to the hinge pieces 25 -to cause the latter tobe drawn together when the leads are wound in by the overhead drums. To this end, in the present example, amultiple part purchase is employed, Yand there are othersheaves received in al bight presented by the closing rope. Inv the followingdescription vit will be convenient to refer to the sheaves 56 as the primary sheaves,'inasmuch as they are the ones over which the closing rope passes first.` rllhe rope passes fromV these sheaves over otherfsheavcs 59, which it will be convenientl to refer toy as lsecondary sheaves. These sheaves `are supported by the hinge pieces 25 in a manner best shown in Figs. 6 and 7. Each sheave turns on a pin 60, one `end of which is received in aboss 6l presented by the hinge piece 25, and the other end is received in a boss or ear 62, presented by the spacer 27. Herein t-he pin is secured in the boss 6l by a pin 63. Associated with each of the sheaves 59 is an appropriate rope guard, herein a roller 64: (see Fig. 2) carried by4 a pair of arms 65, which are freely pendanton and about the pin on which thesheave turns. Itk follows that the arms andl the rollers which they .carryr rlifted un out of the wa when the frrab'is l y a opened. Referring Anow to Fig. 8,` each'of the sling sheaves is mounted to turn on and about a pin 67, suitably secured7 Vas by a keeper 68, to arms 69 of a frame 70,(see Fig. 9), presenting a hub V71 through which a pivot pin72 extends, the terminal portions of said pin being mounted in .l (see the lower part of Fig. 3) disposed about the sheave and supported by the frame protects the sheave and the rope and present-s a circumferential .rope guard 75 having angular slots76 (see Figs. 3 andll) through which the rope emerges as it leaves the groove of the sheave. The. angularity of the slots takes care ofv a certain amount of lateral play of the rope due to the swinging motion of the pivoted sheave-supporting frame. l

' To keep the sling sheaves elevated when the grab is opened (see Fig. ll) there is provided means connecting each sling sheave frame with the hinge piece on which the other sling sheave frame is supported. To this end,in the present example there issecured to the hub of each sling sheave frame an arm 77 conveniently secured to the hub as by being split to` provide a clamping collar 78 having bolts 9 which clamp, it about the hub. To the free end of this arma rope80 is secured, as by a, shackle 81 having a pin 82 adapted to be received in any one of a series of holes 83 (see Fig. 9) in the arm. This provides an adjustment enabling the effective length of the arm to be varied at will. The rope passes over a deflecting sheave 84 and thence crosses over tothe other side of the grab where it is secured to the opposite hinge piecerv as by a cringle 85 (see Fig. 4), pivoted on a stud 86, having a reduced portion 87 which extends through the adjacent side of the hinge piece 25, and is riveted or headed over at 88. A washer 89 at the outer end of the stud and anpin eX- tendingthrough the latterhold the cringle in place on the stud. A turn-buckle 91 (see the central portion of Fig.y 3) introduced at a suitable point in the rope, provides an adjustment for the length `of the latter. The defiecting sheave 84 (see Fig. 5) is mounted to turn lon and about a stud 92 on a support i.ng`bracl;et 93, which is secured to the adjacentfside of the hinge 4piece '25. This bracket presents a rope guardQ/Jf close to the circumference vof thesheave to preventy the 4 plates 73 pref `sented by the shell 29. A housing or bonnet ropeA from coming out ot the groove. The dctlecting sheave is, oi course, placed in a proper position to .prevent interference of the rope with other parts of the grab duringr the opening latter.

"F rom a comparison oi Figs. 2 and l0, it will be observed that the holding rope sheave is disposed,crosswise of the grab and that its axis is somewhat inclined with retcrence to the median line ol the grab as viewed Jtrom the top. This is to enable the rope leadsto be correctly positioned with reference Vto winding drums (not shown). It should also be observed by reference to 2 that the primary sheaves 56 are on opposite sides ot the holding sheave and are, of course, a considerable distance apart. Lilrewise the secondary sheaves 59 are lsimilarly situated as, of course, each is inline with its associated primary sheave. The sling sheaves G6, however, are angularly disposed toVsecure the correct leads trom one to the other (see Fig. `10) and to the secondary sheaves (see also Fig. y

In the operation of the grab the latter is opened `by winding in one end of the holding rope and paying out one end of the closing rope in the proper proportion.` The winding in ot the holding rope lifts the lower head and the latter as it rises rocks the toggle links from the normal position shown in Fig. 8, thus causing the toggle to straighten toward the position shown in Fig. l2. rthe Aouter ends of the toggle links normally push the hinge ypieces apart to the position shown in Fig, oit course, the closing rope is paidout just seliiciently to enablethe grab to be opened without undue slack forming `in the closing rope. During the opening movement, each hingel piece exerts a pull on the slingfsheave controlling rope 'ot' the other hingepiece and thus lifts the corresponding. sling-sheaveand maintains it in such position that' it is properly aligned with the other sheaves and accordingly the rope runs true without danger ot ehating. To close the grab, this operation reversed, the closing rope is ,wound in. This allows the lower head to descend, while 'the pull ef-erted on thebight of the.

closing rope. draws the hinge pieces t-owardA nach other with a very powerful action due to the purchase aliorded by the several rll .s es over which the closing rope passes. This shouldvbe evident from an examination of F' i'. 1l.

the invention, but without limiting myself thereto, what l claim and desire by Letters i, t toy secure is:

l. in a grab, the combination o'ta top head, a bottom head, two hinge pins carried bj.: said top head, two pairs of hinge pieces pivoted te said hinge pins, the hinge pieces and closing movements of the' ll. During this movement,`

ria thus described one embodiment of of each pair being geared together to c aue them to turn in unison, a toggle comprising two linlrspivoted to said hinge pieces, respectively, and to said bottom head, said linlis being geared together to cause them to turnfin unison, a holding rope Sheave carried by said bottom head, a. holding, rope presenting a bight in which said holding rope sheave is'hung, abutment-3y presented by said top and bottom heads for engagement with each other when the. grab opens, two p..- mary shealivfes mounted to turn on and about said hinge pins, respectively, two secondary sheaves carried by said hinge` pieces, respec-A tively, two sling sheaves, two sling sheave trames on which said sling sheaves, respectively, are mounted to turn, two sling sheave trame hinge pins on which said trames, respectively, are mounted to turn, a closing rope extending in a downward direction over one primary sheave, thence over the secondary sheave carried by one hinge piece, thence over the sling sheave carried by the other` hingey piece, thence over the sling sheave carried'by the-other hinge piece, thenceover the remaining secondary sheave, thence over thel rei'naining primary Y.sheave and tinally upwardly, and `two ropes, each connecting a hinge piece to the sling shcave trame carried by the otherhinge piece to utilize opening movement ofthe grab to po sition sait trames. H `f2. in a grab, the combinationo't upper and lower heads, a holding rope which supports said lower head and 'is unconnected to said upperv head, a pair ot hinge pieces pir-1 oted to said upper head to turn about sepa rate axes, a pair 'of shea-ves mounted to turnr about the pivotal axes oic said hinge pieces, respectively, and-'a closing rope which er.H tends in a'downward direction over said sheaves and is-'connected to` said hinge pieces to draw them together. l 1

ln `a grab, `the combination of upper and lower heads, a holding` rope. which -supports said lower head and' is` unconnected to' upper head, a pair ot hinge pieces" piveted to said upper headto turn about separate axes, a pair oit sheaves mounted' to turn about tie pivotal axesotsaid hinge pieces, respectively, a. closing` rope whi r entends in downward direction over said sheavesand is connectedl to said hinge pieces' to draw them together, and rope guards supported'loy said upper headv bet .een said hinge pieces and associated with said sheaves, respectively, to keep said closing rope in place. y j f y 4. In a. grab, the combination ot upper and lower heads, a holdingrope which supports l said lower head and is unconnected to said' upper head,a pair ot hinge pieces pivoted to said upper head to turn about rseparate aires, a .pair of primary/sheaves mounted onsaid upper head to turn about said axes,

lit?

l it) a pair of secondary sheaves mounted on said hinge pieces, respectively, a closing rope which extends in a downward direction over said primary sheaves and thence over said secondary sheaves, and rope guards associated with said sheaves, respectively, to

' a pair of secondary sheaves mounted on'said hinge pieces, respectively, a pair olf' tertiary sheaves carried by said hinge pieces, respectively, a closing rope which extends in a downward direction over said primary sheaves, thence over said secondary sheaves and thence over said tertiary sheaves, and rope guards associated with said sheaves, respectively, to keep said closing rope inr place. 6. In a grab, the combination of upper and lower heads, a holding rope which supports said lower head and is unconnected to said upper head, a pair of hinge pieces pivoted to said upper head to turn .about separate axes, a closing rope, a pair ofV sheaves over which said closing rope passes, said sheaves being mounted to turn about said axes, and a pair of rope guards associa-ted with said sheaves, respectively,and pivoted tol swing about the axes of saidl sheaves.

7. In a grab, the combination of upper and lower heads, a holding rope which supports said lower head and is unconnected to said upper head, a pair of hinge pieces pivoted to said upper head to turn about separate axes, a closing rope, a pair of sheaves over which said closing rope passes, said sheaves being mounted to turn about said axes, and a pair of rope guards associated lwitlisaid sheaves, respectively, and mountedv on said upper head. 4

8. In a grab, the combination of top and ybottom heads, hinge pieces hingedly connected to said top head, a holding rope connected vto said bottom head, a closing rope, lclosingy rope sheaves including two sling sheaves pivotally carried by said hingefpieces,rrespec tively, and two ropes, each connecting a hinge-piece to the sling sheave carried by the other li1nge-piece to utilize opening movement oi' the sheaves.

9. In a grab, the combination of upper andlower heads, a holding rope sheave carried by said lower head. a holding rope unconnected to said upper head and presenting a bight in which said sheave is hung independently of` said upper head, a pair of hingey pieces pivoted to said upper head, a toggle comprising two links pivoted to said lower head and pivoted to said hinge pieces,

grab to lift said sling respectively, and a closing rope connected to said hinge pieces to draw them together.

l0. In a grab, the combination of upper and lower heads, a holding rope sheave carried by said lower head, a holding rope unconnected to said `upper hea'd'and presenting a bight in which said sheavev is hung indepently of said upper head, a pair of hinge pieces pivoted to said upper head, a toggle comprising twol links pivotedto said lower head and pivoted to said hinge pieces, respectively, means postively connecting said links to cause them to swing in unison, and aclosing rope connected to said hinge pieces to draw them together. 'l 11. In a grab, the combination of .upper and lower heads, a holding rope which supports said lower head and is unconnected to said upper. head, a pair of hinge pieces pivoted to said upper head, a toggle comprising twoV links'pivoted tosaid lower head and pivoted to said hinge pieces, respectively,`

head to vmove said hinge piecesapart,

sheaves pivotallycarried by said hinge pieces,` respectively, anda closing rope' eX-` tending over said sheaves to draw said hinge pieces together.

1 3. Ina grab, thecombination ofa pair of pivotally connected hinge pieces, a holding rope, a closing rope, closing ropesheaves including two sheaves pivotally supported on said' hinge pieces, respectively, and means vto utilize swinging movement of said hinge pieces relatively to each other tocause swingingmovement of said pivotally supported sheaves relatively to the hinge pieces on which theyrare respectively supported.

14. In a grab, the combination of a pair of pivotally connected hinge pieces, a holding rope, al closing rope, two closing rope sheaves, frames on which said sheaves rare mounted, said frames being pivotally Acarried by said hinge pieces, respectively, and means connecting each hinge piece to the frame carried by the other hinge piece to utilize relative swinging movement of said hinge pieces to cause swinging movement of said trames relatively to said hinge pieces, respectively. p

l5. In a grab, the combination yof an upper head, two hinge pins carried by said head, two pairs of hinge pieces pivoted tov said hinge pins, the hinge pieces of each pair being geared together to cause them to turn in unison, lower head, a toggle comprising two links pivoted to said hinge pieces, respectively,4 and to said bottom head, said links being geared together to cause them to turn in unison, al holding rope which supports said lower head, a pair of sheaves mounted to turn about the axes ot said hinge pins, and a closing rope which extends in a downward direction over said sheaves and is connected to said hinge pieces to drawn them together.

16. In a grab, the combination of an upper head, two hinge pins carried by said head, two pairs ot hinge pieces pivoted to said hinge pins, the hinge pieces of each pair being geared together to cause them to turn in unison, a lower head, a toggle comprising two links pivoted to said hinge pieces, respectively, and to said bottom head, said links being geared together to cause them to turn in unison, holding rope sheaves carried by said lower head, a holding rope presentnected to said hinge pieces to draw them tol gether.

17. In a grab, the combination of an upper head, two pairs ot `hinge pieces pivoted to said head, a lower head, a toggle comprising two links pivoted to said hinge pieces, respectively, and to said bottom head, said links being geared together to cause them to turn in unison, a. holding rope which supports said lower head, a `pair of sheaves adjacent the pivots ot said hinge pieces, and a ,closing rope which extends in a downward direction over said sheaves and is connected to said hinge pieces to draw them together.

ln testimony whereof, l have signed my name to this specification.

ALMON' E. Nonnis. I

CERTIFICATE 0F CORRECTIN.

Patent No. 1,671,444. i Granted May 29, 1928, to

ALMON E. NORRIS.

lt is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 1, line 44, for the numeral "2" read "21"; page 5, line 1, before the Word "loWer' insert the article "a"; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent 0ffice.

Signed and sealed this 10th day of July, A. D. 1928.

,i .L Moore, (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

